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Commanders Keep Rolling, Win 4th in a Row

The Washington Commanders continued to play bully ball as they roughed up the Cleveland Browns 34-13 Sunday at Northwest Stadium. The team gained over 400 yards and held Cleveland to just 214 yards of offense. A total team effort to improve to 4-1, the franchise’s best record through five weeks since 2008. 

Here are a few of my observations from the victory:

Nell’s Super Six Pack:

It’s time to view the Commanders as a real contender in the NFC:

After years of being starved of a consistent winner, the DMV finally has a professional football program to be proud of. After Sunday’swin, Washington is now 4-1 and gaining momentum as a legit contender in the NFC. The formula the Commanders have employed is one that travels and one that is sustainable when it matters most in December and January. This franchise hasn’t won a playoff game since 2005, it’s early, but the 2024 Commanders have the postseason on their mind. When you have a dynamic weapon at QB like Jayden Daniels and a true identity on both sides of the ball, you have a chance to win every Sunday

 

Defense put a wounded animal out of its misery:

Despite the taki hot start offensively, things haven’t been perfect throughout the first month of the season. The Commanders defense has been under the microscope and to put it nicely, have simply not lived up to expectations throughout the first month of the season. The past two weekends, this group has taken it personally. Last weekend they held an explosive Cardinals offense to just 14 points and under 300 yards while sacking Kyler Murray four times. Sunday, it was the Commanders most complete performance of the young season. The defense held the Browns offense under 220 yards of total offense while sacking Deshuan Watson seven times. Coming into the game, the run defense had been porous giving up 5.1 yards per carry on the ground (31st in the NFL) they were gashed last weekend by Arizona despite playing well (Cardinals averaged 5.7 yards per carry). Sunday, Washington was dominant stopping the run for the first time all year. They held Cleveland to 104 yards on the ground, and to the defense’s credit, most of that happened in garbage time. It’s just one week, but the defense seems poised to turn things around

 

Jayden Daniels has entered the MVP discussion:

Jayden Daniels brushed off throwing an early pick in the red zone like an old, wily veteran. It was the first time all season Washington didn’t get points in the red area. The way Daniels handled that wave of adversity proved he’s the right guy to usher this program back to glory. Daniels finished 14 for 25 for 238 yard with 1 TD and 1 interception while adding 82 yards on the ground including a 34-yard scamper. The last time a Jim Schwartz defense lost to a rookie was 2016, Daniels picked them apart. He was surgical within the pocket and showed tremendous poise against the blitz. The Commanders are the first team since the 1970 merger to score 150+ points in their first five games of the season while starting a rookie QB. Jayden Daniels is leading Washington to 30+ points per game so far this season, that along with a 4-1 record makes him a serious MVP candidate.

 

Northwest Stadium passes the home field advantage test:

After winning just 1 game at home last season, the Commanders have won their first 2 games inside the friendly confines of Northwest Stadium. Anyone in attendance would tell you, Sunday’s environment at the stadium was memorable, the fans were so dialed in as one, that they successfully completed “The Wave” across the entire stadium. Times are changing for a fanbase and community that deserves a winner. Good news: five of the next eight games are at HOME.

 

Terry McLaurin is indeed scary:

Over the past two weeks, Terry McLaurin has been performing at a big time level for the Washington Commanders. McLaurin had his best performance of the season Sunday catching four passes for 112 yards. His performance included a 66-yard reception, making him Washington’s leading receiver in both yards and targets. Despite the Commanders’ large lead, which reduced the need for heavy passing, McLaurin still managed a strong showing. The past 3 weeks McLaurin has 15 catches for 264 yards and 2 TDs, proving to be indeed, “scary.” If this team is going to reach its potential, McLaurin must continue to be involved.

 

Game Balls:

Austin Ekeler

Jayden Daniels

Terry McLaurin

Frankie Luvu

Jon Allen

Bobby Wagner

 

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